Wednesday

May 27, 2009 at 12:01 AMMay 27, 2009 at 3:35 PM

Stephenson County Health Administrator Craig Beintema said it’s essential that the local health department continue its annual West Nile virus surveillance program, which is set to begin for this season on June 1.

Stephenson County Health Administrator Craig Beintema said it’s essential that the local health department continue its annual West Nile virus surveillance program, which is set to begin for this season on June 1.

With the program, health officials place traps in Freeport and around the county so that mosquitoes can be collected and tested for West Nile virus. The county health department also tests birds for the presence of the virus and works closely with the Freeport Mosquito Abatement District, which periodically conducts mosquito spraying in the area, Beintema said.

West Nile virus is a mosquito-borne illness that can be transmitted to humans from the bite of a mosquito that has picked up the virus by feeding on an infected bird.

“It’s really important that we continue this testing,” Beintema said. “We need to continue to do surveillance to show the risk that is out there to the public.”

In 2008, there were no birds or mosquito batches that tested positive for the virus in Stephenson County. However, there was one positive human case in the county that year, which shows that the virus is still active in this area, Beintema said. Last year’s human case, which involved an adult woman, did require hospitalization, but the victim was able to recover, Beintema said.

Beth Gilmour, a sanitarian for the health department, oversees the local West Nile virus surveillance program. She said she will place approximately six mosquito traps in the county, including at least two in Freeport and some in outlying areas like Lena. Gilmour will then pick up the traps twice a week to test the mosquito batches for the presence of West Nile virus.

To perform the testing, Gilmour will grind up the mosquitoes, add a solution, and then test each batch to determine if the virus is present. She will also collect and test dead birds for the presence of the virus, so county residents are encouraged to call the health department if they see a dead bird where the cause of death is not apparent, Gilmour said.

“We’re still asking people this year to call in the birds,” Gilmour said. “The bird calls were down last year. That’s still such a good indicator if the virus is present, if the birds start dying, especially crows.”

Gilmour said birds that die from West Nile virus are usually found alone. When there are a large number of dead birds found in a given area, that is typically not caused by West Nile, she said.

The public, Gilmour said, should be aware of the threat of West Nile virus, whether they are in Stephenson County or outside of the area.

Predicting West Nile

Melaney Arnold, a spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Public Health, said it’s hard to predict how active West Nile will be during a particular season. During hotter, drier summers, the disease tends to be more active because this is the preferred weather for the Culex mosquito, which is the primary carrier of the virus.

According to Arnold, hot and dry weather leads to more stagnant water, which is where the Culex breeds. Wet and cooler weather leads to more nuisance mosquitoes, but these mosquitoes are less likely to carry West Nile, Arnold said. During the summer of 2008, the weather was rainy and cooler, which resulted in less West Nile virus activity in Illinois, she said.

“It’s the Culex mosquito that carries it, and they need stagnant water,” Arnold said, adding that the public should protect themselves from mosquitoes. “One of the key things to do is get rid of any standing water, like if you have old tires lying around. If you have bird baths or ornamental ponds, make sure you refresh the water once a week.”

Another important way to protect yourself from mosquito bites is to wear insect repellent and long sleeves and pants if you go outside around dusk, Arnold said.

Abatement District

In addition to the health department’s activities, the Freeport Mosquito Abatement District also traps mosquitoes to test for West Nile and keep track of how many nuisance and Culex mosquitoes there are in the Freeport district. The abatement district contracts with Clarke Mosquito Control to conduct its testing and spraying activities.

Ian Bradley, president of the Freeport Mosquito Abatement District, said this area is well prepared to deal with the threat posed by West Nile virus.

“I think we’re in a good position working so closely with the health department,” Bradley said.

Tips to prevent the spread of West Nile virus

Alert health authorities to potential mosquito breeding sites in your area.
Avoid outdoor activities in the early morning and at dusk. Whenever outdoors between dusk and dawn, wear shoes and socks, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt. Loose-fitting, light-colored clothing is best.
Apply insect repellent to exposed skin and also spray it on clothing. An effective repellent will contain 25 to 35 percent of the active ingredient DEET or picaridin or lemon of eucalyptus.
Drain standing water in your yard at least once a week.
Check screens on porches and patios for tears and other openings.

(Tips provided by the Winnebago County Health Department)

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